Rail-chair for bridges and trestles.



'A. G. LIEBMANN. RAIL CHAIR FOR BRIDGES AND TRESTLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1913.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Elma/whom A G. .5 Que/677mm.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0. PHOTc-LITHa. WASHINGTON. D. C.

TINTTE STATES PATENT FIG AUGUST G. LIEBMANN, 0F BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOB T0 VIGNOLES RAIL CHAIR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. 5C, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAIL-GHAIR FOR BRIDGES AND TRESTLES.

Application filed August 27, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUeUsr G. LIEBMANN, citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silver-bow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Chairs for Bridges and Trestles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway track appliances and particularly to rail chairs.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a rail chair so constructed that it may be used on bridges, trestles and other relatively long steel structures where the longitudinal elements or stringers are spaced to form an open structure and to meet the necessity of excessive expansion and contraction incident to these steel structures and to allow the rail to move longitudinally.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail chair so designed that it may be used without interfering with a guard rail and so constructed that the use of a guard rail will not interfere with the proper adjustment of the main rail and of the adjusting parts of the chair.

A. further object is the constructionof a very simple, relatively cheap and effective chair of the character described which will hold a rail securely upon a substructure and which will permit the rail together with its securing means to be adjusted laterally for gage and vertically for surface.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a rail supporting structure, a rail thereon and the improved rail chair. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bed plate for the improved tie partially formed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indi cated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

In these figures, A designates a longitudinal member of a bridge-truss or other like structure and B designates ties which are supported thereon and extend transversely thereto, these ties being spaced from each Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 787,014.

other. Supported upon the ties is the rail C which may be of any standard cross section. The ties B may be of any suitable form but are illustrated as wooden ties or timbers.

The bed plate of the chair consists of a strip of metal, the median portion of which is cut inward on the lines a--a as shown in Fig. 4-. The portions 6 between the cuts cc are bent downwardly and inwardly so as to form a rectangular, longitudinally extending box-like member designated generally 3, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The web at forming the top of this member is the connecting member between the relatively wide ends 5 of the bed plate and has a width less than the width of a rail base to permit said rail, together with its securing means, to be adjusted laterally for gage. The side walls 6 of the box-like member 3 constitute abutments and said side walls and the bottom wall of this member 3 are slotted for the passage of adjusting wedges which will be later described, the slots being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and being designated 7.

Disposed between the ties and between the relatively large ends 5 of the bed plate are oppositely disposed rail clamps 8. Each clamp consists of a plate of metal which is bent to fit over the margin of the rail base, and then extends downwardly, as at 9, and is then bent inwardly as at 9 to fit beneath and against the boX-like member 3. Each rail clamping plate is formed at its middle with a strengthening corrugation 10. Each rail clamp is formed with a bolt perforation 11 and a vertically extending slot 12. Pass ing through the rail clamps and engaging with the member 3 are wedging members 13. The small end of each member 13 has a uni form diameter for a certain distance and is screw threaded as at 14: for engagement by a nut 15. There are two of these wedging members 13 and they are reversely disposed to each other, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 3. The inclined upper faces of the wedging members bear upward against the walls of the slots in the box-like member 3.

It will be obvious that as the wedges are forced inwardly, the clamping members will be drawn downwardly upon the base flange of the rail. If it is desired to raise the rail by means of a shim, the wedges may be loosened, a shim 16 disposed beneath the rail and the wedges again clamped in engagement with the base flange of the rail. In order to adjust the rail laterally for gage it is merely necessary to shift the rail clamping members to the right or to the left, as the case may be, and force the wedges home, when the rail will be securely clamped in position on the bed plate.

The particular form of rail chair which has been heretofore described permits of expansion and contraction in the steel substructure inasmuch as the rail clamps will yield as the rail and supporting structure are respectively longitudinally contracted or expanded. The metal of the bed plate will also expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of the substructure and this particular form of chair is peculiarly adapted for use with bridges and trestles, particularly so inasmuch as the operative parts of the chair, namely, the wedging members 13, are disposed in the space between the ties and therefore below the base of any guard rail which may be extended parallel with the main rail. It will be seen that this form of chair is particularly compact and does not project out laterally to any great extent beyond the base of the main rail and hence offers no impediment to the guard rail. Again it will be noted that as the adjusting nuts 14 and the heads of the wedges are disposed below the level of the upper face of the ties and below the base of any guard rail, they may be easily manipulated to shift the wedges and thus adjusted so as to securely clamp the main rail either down upon a shim or down upon the face of the base plate. The body portion of the chair and the rail clamps are preferably made of rolled sheet metal, thus economiz ing in cost of production.

While the improved chair is shown applied to the substructure of a bridge or trestle, it will be understood that this chair may be used for other purposes or in other situations. It is particularly adapted for use in the Central States region of the United States where the bridges and trestles are relatively long.

Inasmuch as the base plate is intended to be permanently attached to the tie by means of screw spikes 17 which may be of any suitable form, it will be obvious that the tie will not be damaged by respiking when the rail is to be shimmed. This prolongs the life of the tie and hence treated ties may be used. where respiking has to be resorted to in order to permit adjustment of the rail. it so shortens the life of the tie that it is not economically practical to treat the tie.

Two things will be noted by reference to Fig. 1; first that the rail is very solidly supported between ties by the downwardly turned and bent portions 6 which constitute almost a box girder, and next that the rail clamps have approximately the width of the space between the ties and therefore prevent any creeping of the rail with relation to the ties.

The final report of the Block Signal and Train Control Board 'of the Interstate Commerce Commission laid down as a rule that rails should be held to ties in such a manner as to provide for a proper elevation of the rail by shimming and that the rail fastening should be such that ready adjustment of the rail could be secured without lost motion or chance of accidental derangement. These requirements are fulfilled by my rail chair and particularly with reference to trestlelike structures or bridges.

What I claim is:

l. A rail chair including a bed plate adapted to bridge adjacent ties, and adjustable rail clamping members engageable with an intermediate portion of the bed plate and with a rail for holding said rail in difierent positions of lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to said bed plate.

2. A rail chair including a bed plate adapted to bridge adjacent ties, and adjustable rail clamping members engageable with the bed plate and with a rail where the bed plate bridges the ties for holding said rail in different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to the bed plate.

3. The combination with a bed plate adapted to engage a plurality of ties and bridge the space between said ties, of adjustable rail clamping members adapted to engage over the base of a rail and clamp the latter on the bed plate in different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment with respect thereto, said rail clamping members having corrugations extending transverse to the line of the track, whereby the rail clamping members may expand or contract.

i. A rail chair including a -bed plate adapted to span the space between adjacent ties and engage said ties, an intermediate portion of the bed plate being reduced in width, adjustable rail clamping .members engaging one on each side of the reduced portion of the bed plate for holding a rail in different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to the bed plate, and means engaging said bed plate for positively loc'king the rail clamping members in their rail clamping positions.

5. A rail chair of the character described comprising a bed plate adapted to span a pair of ties and rest thereon, an intermediate portion of the bed plate being reduced in width, said reduced portion having depending walls, oppositely disposed rail clamping members adapted to engage over the base of a rail and extend down parallel to said depending walls, and means passing through the rail clamping members and said depending walls for holding the rail clamping members in place.

6. A rail chair comprising a bed plate adapted to span the space between adjacent ties and rest upon said ties, an intermediate portion of the bed plate being reduced in Width and having depending walls, the lower edges of which are inwardly turned, angular rail clamping members adapted to engage at their upper ends over a rail and extending downwardly and inwardly on each side of the depending walls of the bed plate and beneath the same, and locking devices engaging the downwardly extending portions of the clamping members and the depending walls of the bed plate for locking the rail clamping members in adjusted position.

7. A rail chair comprising a bed plate adapted to span the space between adjacent ties and rest upon said ties, the intermediate portion of the bed plate having downwardly and inwardly extending walls forming a, hollow substantially rectangular member adapted to extend between said ties, said member being transversely slotted, angular rail clamping members disposed one on each side of said rectangular member and adapt ed to engage over the base of a rail, said rail clamping member being vertically slotted, and wedging members engaging the slots of the rail clamping members and said rectangular member and adapted to wedge the rail clamping members downward.

8. A rail chair comprising a bed plate adapted to span the space between adjacent ties and rest upon said ties, the intermediate portion of the bed plate being reduced in width and having downwardly and inwardly extending walls forming a hollow substantially rectangular member adapted to extend between said ties, said member being transversely slotted, angular rail clamping members disposed one on each side of said rectangular member and adapted to engage over the base of a rail, said rail clamping members being vertically slotted, wedging members passing through the slots of the rail clamping members and said rectangular member and adapted to wedge said rail clamping members downward, and means for locking said wedging members in adjusted positions.

9. A rail chair comprising a bed plate adapted to span a pair of ties and rest upon said ties, the middle portion of the bed plate being reduced in width and having downwardly and inwardly extending walls, the reduced portion of the bed plate and said walls together forming a box-like member open at its ends and adapted to extend between said ties, the walls and bottom of the box-like member being vertically slotted, oppositely disposed rail clamping members, each consisting of a U-shaped plate engageable over the base of a rail and beneath said box-like member, the side of each rail clamping member being vertically slotted, and adjusting wedges passing through said slots find transversely through the box-like mem- 10. A rail chair comprising a bed plate adapted to span a pair of ties and rest upon said ties, the middle portion of the bed plate being reduced in width and having downwardly and inwardly extending walls, the reduced portion of the bed plate and said Walls together forming a box-like member open at its ends and adapted to extend be tween said ties, the walls and bottom of the box-like member being vertically slotted, oppositely disposed rail clamping members, each consisting of a U-shaped plate engageable over the base of a rail and beneath said box-like member, the side of each rail clamp ing member being vertically slotted, adjusting wedges passing'through said slots and transversely through the box-like member, each of said adjusting wedges being screw threaded at its small end, and nuts carried upon the screw threaded ends of the wedges whereby the wedges may be longitudinally shifted and held in adjusted positions.

11. A rail chair of the character described comprising a bed plate adapted to span the space between adjacent ties and rest upon said ties, the middle portion of the bed plate being reduced in width, said reduced portion being formed with downwardly extending side walls turned inward at their lower ends to thereby form a hollow box-like member having a length ap proximately equal to the distance between the ties, each side of the box-like member being formed with a vertical slot and with an aperture, approximately U-shaped rail clamping plates one on either side of the box-like member, each of said plates being formed with a vertical slot and with a perforation and each of said plates having a median corrugation extending in a vertical plane, wedges passing through the slots and apertures of the clamping plates, the wedges being reversely disposed with relation to each other and provided with threaded ends, and nuts disposed upon the screw threaded ends of the wedges.

12. The combination with a substructure including a pair of spaced ties and a rail thereon, of a rail chair comprising a bed plate, resting upon said ties and spanning the space between the ties, a portion of said bed plate for a length approximately equal to the space between the ties being cut away to reduce the width of the plate between the ties, the cutaway material being clownwardly bent and then inwardly bent be neath the plate to form a box-like member open at its ends and having a length approximately equal to the distance between lOi) the ties, and rail clamping members operatively engaged with said box-like member and with the rail.

13. The combination with a substructure including a pair of spaced ties and a rail thereon, 01 a rail chair comprising a bed plate resting upon said ties and spanning the space between the ties, a portion of said bed plate being cut away to reduce the width of the plate between the ties, the cutaway material being downwardly bent and then inwardly bent beneath the plate to form a box-like member open at its ends and having a length approximately equal to the distance between the ties, rail clamping members each approximately U-shaped in form, each extending over the base flange of the rail on opposite sides thereof, downward parallel to the sides of the box-like member and then inward, the bOX-llLiQ member and the rail clamping members being vertically slotted, adjusting wedges passing through t1 e sides of the rail clamping members and engaging the box-like member, and means for locking said wedges in adjusted position.

14. A rail chair comprising a bed plate adapted to span the space between adjacent ties and rest upon said ties and having depending walls, the lower edges of the walls being inwardly turned, angular rail clamping members adapted to engage at their upper ends over a rail and extending downwardly and inwardly on each side of the depending walls of the bed plate and then being bent to extend beneath the same, and locking devices engaging the down wardly extending portions of the rail clamping members and the depending walls of the bed plate for locking the rail clamping members in adjusted position.

15. A rail chair including a bed plate, laterally and vertically movable rail clamping members engageable over a rail base, wedging means disposed beneath the bed plate and operatively engaging with the rail clamping members and the bed plate to draw said rail clamping members downwardly against the rail base, and screw threaded means for shifting said wedging members.

16. A rail chair including a bed plate, laterally and vertically movable rail clomping members engageable over a rail base, and oppositely disposed wedges arranged beneath the bed plateand operatively engaging the rail clamping members and bed plate, whereby to draw the rail clamping members downwardly as the wedges are forced inwardly.

17. A rail chair including a bridge bed plate having depending abutments, means for permanently securing the bed plate to a sub-structure, rail securing means cooperating with the bed plate and abutments, and means for adjusting the rail securing means to move the rail laterally and vertically with respect to the bed plate without disturbing said bed plate.

18. The combination with spaced ties, of a bed plate permanently attached to the ties and provided with depending abutments disposed between the ties, a rail resting on the bed plate or on a shim and adjustable laterally and vertically with respect to the bed plate, a rail clamping member, and means cooperating with the rail clamping member and abutments for hold'mg the rail in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST Gr. LIEBMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

